Costa Coffee is welcomed

Published:10:48Thursday 03 January 2013

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Traders have struck out against a petition to stop Costa Coffee from coming to Bakewell, claiming it will be good for the town.

Planning permission for the 54 seater franchise coffee shop, which will take over the former Bennets premises, in King Street, was rejected by the Peak District National Park Authority however an appeal was lodged with the Planning Inspectorate and the original decision was overturned.

A campaign to boycott the shop was set up by residents and traders in reaction to the decision, however not everyone is opposed it.

Richard Young, who has run the Original Farmers Market Shop, in Market Street, for 12 years with his wife Carolyn, thinks Costa Coffee will give a breath of life to the town centre.

“It is perhaps time for the high street to change, a subtle mix of independents and nationals is the way forward, Bakewell needs a new breath of life to help take it forward and Costa will help,” he explained.

“We have a couple of 18 year olds working for us who live in Matlock.

“We were discussing the Costa issue recently and they said it was the best thing that happened for Matlock, it regenerate a redundant building and gave their generation somewhere to have a coffee and study, which at the moment is not available in Bakewell.

“Lets welcome Costa to Bakewell with open arms.”

Denis Mooney, of Bakewell Carnival Committee, said that while it would have been nice to see an independent shop take up the premises, it had been left vacant for more than a year without anyone taking it up.